Boiler-tube cleaner.



Patentsd luly `I8, |899.

J. .Kl-:EMM BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

(Application mad 1111.18, 1899.)

2' shuts-sheet Tm: nonqxs PETERS m. PHOro-Lxfno, WASHING-ron, n c

nu. 929,090. Patented my la, |999.

.L KEENAN.

BUILER TUBE CLEANER.

(Application led Jan. 1S, 1899.)

Illu Model.) 2 Sheets-Sinaai 2.

193.4. A 79:14 m f54m /Lkff sin ` m: mams Pizzas cov, moraufna. wnsummow o c NTED 'STATI-3sk PATENT FFIC JOSEPH IIEENAN, or ALLEGHENY,"PENNSYLVANIA,AssIeNon or oNn- HALE To WILLIAM e.j LINDSAY, or rIrrsnune, PENNSYLVANIA.

Bowan-rosa CLEAN ER.

srnorrrcafrron'formingpart of Lette'rsratent No. 629,080, atea July 1s, Iseo. Application iiled January 18, i899. Serial No; 702,554. v(No model.)

To all whom itin/wy concern: p

Be it known that Ldosnrn KEENAN, aresident of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ,Boiler-Tube, Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to boiler-tube cleaners.v

The object of my invention is to provide a boiler-tube cleaner which will be simplein construction and capable of withstanding the severe work to which said boiler-tubes are often subjected in the cleaning of a badlyincrusted tube.

To these ends my invention comprises the novel features hereinafter claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to makey and use In y invention, Iwill describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 Figure l is a side View, partiy in section, of a suitable boiler with attachments for supporting the tube-cl'eaner during operation and showing the tube-cleaner inserted in one of the tubes of the boiler. Fig. 2 is a front view of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of a boiler-tube and with my improved cleaner therein, this View showing the cutters-as thrown out by the centrifugal force and engaging the scale on the inte-K' rior of the tube. Fig. 4; is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the head of my improved tube-cleaner, showing the manner in which the diherentpsections of the head are joined together and the manner in which the .cutters are supported within the slotted seats in said head. Y Fig. 5 is asection on the` line m Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 isa section on the line y ly, Fig. 3. Fig. rTis a partial sectional view of the forward end of the head, showing the manner in which the foremost cutter is supported, it also showing the cutter-nose mounted slightly eccentric to the mainaxis of the head. Fig. 8 is a front view of the cutternose. Fig. 9 is.l a'front view ofthe outer section of the head with cutter-nose removed; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the cutternose, showing the manner in which it is held in position.

vboiler-tubes a. 'of the boiler are the brackets b, which support the frame B. This frame is preferably vwhich'the slide c is adapted tomove.

in eachi view.

In the drawingsthe letter A representsl a boiler of suitable construction, the boiler in this instance employed having the inclined Secured to the front plate A' formed of sections o f tubing properly connected, the inner tubes b having the rings b2, with the projections h3 adapted to engage with the brackets b to support the frame properly. The frame B has the guides c, upon This slide c can be readily moved overthe guides c .Like letters of reference indicate like parts to bringthe cleaner into proper line with the different tubes in the manner hereinafter set forth. Supported in theslide c' is the pulley c2, which is adapted tobe connectedup to suitable belting and to bedriven at a high rate of speed.` This pulley c2 has a groove therein, with which a key or feather eon the rod c is adapted to engage,` whereby the -rod e is 'revolved bysaid pulley, and at the same time -sai'd rod can jbe moved back and forth therein by means of,the handle e2.

At the forward end of the rod e is the head F. This head is preferably formed of two Vor more sections f f f2.' The largest section fis seejcured ,onto the outer end of the rod e. The section f', which is smaller in diameter than the section f, has the threaded portion f3,

which engages the threaded seat in the. sec- V4tion f. The Aforemost section fz'is' in turn vsmaller in diameter than the preceding section f', and the threadedportion f4 thereon 'engageswith thev threaded seat in said sectionf. It is of lcourse .apparent that any suitable number of sections may be employed.

Each section ff f2 is provided with one or lmore cutters h, said cutters being circular in form and having the cutting edges h', as shown in Fig. 5. The cutters h are mounted said cutters. A

To provide for the outward movement of the cutters when the head is rotated the pins i Iit within the slotted seats lo, formed in the different sections. These slotted Vseats are formed in each section and extend from one `on pins 11, which pass through openings h2 in IOO a endoso end thereof down into the body of the section beyond the recesses m. While oblong or slotted seats are preferably employed, it is apparent that the seats maybe of other shapes, provided they are large enough to permit of the outward throw of the critters. In securing the cutters in place the cutter is first inserted into the recess m, when the pin t' is then inserted in the slotted seat at one end and passes through the central opening h2 of the cutter and then on through into the inner extremity of the seat, which extends beyond the recess m.

When the different sections are screwed together, the inner face of each section abutting against the outer face of the preceding section prevents the pins from falling from the slots and secures them in position, while at the same time by unscrewing the different sections the pins may be readily withdrawn and the cutters released, so that the cutters may be sharpened or new ones inserted in their places. This construction provides not only a very simple manner of mounting' the cutters, but at the same time a very durable one, as the pins can be made suliiciently strong to withstand the severe action to which the cutters are subjected. The arrangement of the cutters with relation to each other may be varied as desired.

At the extreme 4forward end ofthe head F is the cutter-nose n, Which acts, Where the boiler is very badly incrusted, to cut a way into the scale for the entrance of the tool and as a preparation for the cutters which follow and which gradually enlarge the opening in the scale. This cutter-nose is tapering in form and has the cutters fa, as shown in face view Fig. `The cutter-nose is preferably mounted eccentrically to the main axis of the head in orderthatit may have an eccentric rolling motion. This cutter-nose n is mounted loosely on the eccentric stud 0, projecting out from the section f2 of the head F. Ascrew or bolt fr enters a threaded opening in said stud 0, the head of said screw entering the countersunk opening n2 in said cutter-nose. A pin s passes through the section f2 and through an opening in the screw fr. This pin also acts to hold in place the pin t', on which the outer cutter of the outer section f2 is mounted, as shown in Figs. 7 and lO.

Then my improved boiler-tube cleaner is in use, the frame B is arranged as shown in Figs. l and 2 with reference to the boiler, and the rod e, carrying the head F, is brought into proper position to enter one of the tubes d of the boiler. in a vertical plane is accomplished by means of the clamping-sleeves c3, which are adapted to slide vertically on the outer tubes of the frame and to be clamped rigidly in that proper position thereon. W'hen, as stated, the head has been brought into proper position with reference to one of the tubes a, the operator then by means vof the handle e2 forces the rod e into the tube and power is then applied to rotate the pulley c2. This pulley is driven at a high rate of speed, and rotation is thus imparted to the head F. The rotation of the head F acts by centrifugal force to throw out the cutters h into contact With the scale, and these cutters being free to rotate act to cut out and brealrdownthe scale ccntained within the tubes. The cutter-nose going ahead acts to open a passage for the cutters just following, which have a slightlylarger range of cut' than the cutter-nose, and said cutters in turn open up the way for the cutters following, which have an increased range, and so on back to the cutters on the innermost section of the head.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotatable rod or shaft, a head on same, said head being composed of two or more sections screwed together, said sections having recesses formed therein and slotted seats extending froin the ends of said sections to a point within and beyond said recesses, and pins within said seats, cutters on said pins and within said recesses, the abutting ends of said sections closing the open ends of said seats, substantially as set forth'.

The adjustment of the guides c 2. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotatable rod or shaft, a head on same, and a single conical nose having cutters extending longitudinally thereof, said nose being mounted loosely on said head and eccentrically thereof, and at its base approximately of the same diameter as Jthe outer end of said head, said head having a recess back of the conical nose, and a cutter being mounted in saidrecess, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOSEPH KEENAN, have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH KEENAN.

lVitn esscs:

Ron'r. D. ToTTEN, ROBERT C. TOTTEN.

IOO 

